DRUGSTORE BEETLE

The drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum), also known as the bread beetle or biscuit beetle, is a tiny, brown beetle that can be found infesting a wide variety of dried plant products, where it is among the most common non-weevils to be found. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Stegobium.

Drugstore beetle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Anobiidae
Subfamily:	Anobiinae
Genus:	Stegobium Motschulsky, 1860
Species:	S. paniceum
Binomial name
Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus, 1758)

The drugstore beetle has a worldwide distribution though it is more common in warmer climates. It is similar in appearance to the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), but is slightly larger (adults can be up to 3.5 mm in length). Additionally, drugstore beetles have antennae ending in 3-segmented clubs, while cigarette beetles have serrated antennae (notched like teeth of a saw). The drugstore beetle also has grooves running longitudinally along the elytra, whereas the cigarette beetle is smooth.

Larvae

The drugstore beetle's larvae are small, white grubs, that can be distinguished from the grubs of the cigarette beetle by their shorter hair. The female can lay up to 75 eggs at once, and the larval period lasts up to several months depending on the food source. It is the larvae that are responsible for most of the damage that this species can cause.

The drugstore beetle lives in obligatory symbiosis with a yeast fungus, which is passed on to the offspring by covering the eggs with it.

Name

As its name suggests, the drugstore beetle has a tendency to feed on pharmacological products, this is from its preference of dried herbs and plant material sometimes used as drugs, e.g. drugstore beetles have been known to feed on strychnine, a highly toxic herbal extract. It can also feed on a diverse range of dried foods and spices, as well as hair, leather, books, and museum specimens. It can bore into furniture and in some cases tin foil or sheets of lead. The drugstore beetle is also known as the biscuit or bread beetle since it can happily live on biscuit or bread crumbs.

Pest Control

The most effective method of ridding a home of this beetle is to try to discover the source of the infestation. Drugstore beetles often enter a home in bulk items like bird seed, grass seed, or dry pet food, where several generations of beetles can develop unnoticed until some of the adults eventually leave to infest new locations. Telltale signs of infested items are shot-like holes puncturing the outside packaging of food items and pockmarking solid items like crackers and pasta, as well as loose powder at the bottom of storage bags. While adult beetles do not feed, they are adept at chewing holes.

Once inside the home, the adult beetles will lay their eggs on a variety of foods including whole grains, processed grains and vegetative material. Food sources which can become infested include grains, flour, bread, rice, seeds, beans, pasta, cereals, bird seed, grass seed, potpourri, spices, teas, and tobacco.^[1] While they are highly adept at chewing out of cardboard, foil, and plastic film to escape the package in which they have undergone metamorphosis to adults, they are somewhat less likely to eat into a sealed, airtight foil or plastic bag. Ideally, all open packages should be discarded in an infested home; however, it is also effective to freeze items if the entire contents can be brought below −20 C (−4 F).

Food storage areas like pantries and cabinets need to be vacuumed thoroughly, including the crevices between floor boards, the corners of cabinets, and areas where mice may have hoarded things like dry dog food. A bird nest within a home can also provide a haven for drugstore beetles, and a professional may need to be consulted to address this. Lowering home humidity levels can be helpful as well. While the use of chemical insecticides may be undesirable in food storage areas, diatomaceous earth can be useful sprinkled in corners or even mixed into bird seed (diatomaceous earth is edible, but inhaling it should be avoided).

References

1. ^ Hedges, Stoy & Lacey, Dr. Mark, Field Guide for the Management of Structure Infesting Beetles, Volume II: Stored Product Beetle/Occasional & Overwintering Beetles, Franzak & Foster Co., 1996, pp. 95-96

External Links

• Cornell Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet
• drugstore beetle on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site.

- Wikipedia 

BOOKWORM

Bookworm is a popular generalization for any insect that supposedly bores through books.

Actual book-borers are uncommon. Two moths, the common clothes moth and the brown housemoth, will attack cloth bindings. Leather-bound books attract various beetles, such as the larder beetle and the larva of the black carpet beetle and Stegobium paniceum. Larval death watch beetles and common furniture beetles will tunnel through wood, and through paper if it is nearby the wood.

Pages riddled with bookworm damage on Errata.

A major book-feeding insect is the book or paper louse (also known as booklouse or paperlouse). These are tiny (under 1 mm), soft-bodied wingless Psocopterans (usually Trogium pulsatorium), which actually feed on microscopic molds and other organic matter found in ill-maintained works (e.g., cool, damp, dark, and undisturbed areas of archives, libraries, and museums), although they will also attack bindings and other book parts. The booklouse is not a true louse.

Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1907–1916, Augustine Birrell once recounted a situation in which a bookworm had eaten through to the 87th page of a fifteenth-century vellum book. By the twentieth century, modern bookbinding materials thwarted much of the damage done to books by various types of book-boring insects.

Traces of a bookworm in a book

References

1. ^ Murray, Stuart (2009). The Library: An Illustrated History. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing. p. 198.

• "John Francis Xavier O'Conor, Facts about bookworms: their history in literature and work in libraries (New York: Francis P. Harper, 1898.)
• John V. Richardson Jr., “Bookworms: The Most Common Insect Pests of Paper in Archives, Libraries, and Museums”
• "Timber Borers - Anobium & Lyctus Borers"
• Thomas A Parker "Study on integrated pest management for libraries and archives" - prepared by Thomas A Parker for the General Information Programme and UNISIST (Paris: Unesco, 1988)

- Wikipedia 

Foods to Eat If You Have Low Iron

red meat isn't the only food rich in iron Photo Credit AntiGerasim/iStock/Getty Images

Overview

If you have low iron levels in your blood, you may have iron-deficiency anemia or borderline anemia, a condition that can ultimately result in a shortage of oxygen in the body. Red meat is often at the top of the list of iron-rich foods but many other foods contain this essential mineral. To improve your iron levels, it is important to eat not only foods that are rich in iron but also foods that are high in vitamin C, which helps your body absorb iron from other foods.

Meat, Poultry and Seafood

shellfish such as mussels are high in iron Photo Credit Jacek Nowak/iStock/Getty Images

Beef, pork, lamb, dark-meat poultry and seafood are all significant sources of iron. Beef livers, chicken livers and other organ meats are especially high in iron. Fish such as sardines, anchovies, shellfish such as clams, mussels and oysters are high in iron. Meat, poultry and fish are good foods to eat if you are low in iron because the iron in animal foods, known as heme iron, is the type of iron that is best absorbed by the body.

Legumes

baked beans and other legumes contain non-heme iron Photo Credit Bob Ingelhart/iStock/Getty Images

Lima beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, baked beans and other legumes, such as lentils and split peas, are all good sources of iron. However, the iron in these plant foods, known as non-heme iron, is not as well absorbed by the body as heme iron. How much iron is absorbed from legumes depends on the types of foods served with them. Combining legumes and meat sources of heme iron at the same meal will enhance the absorption of iron from the legumes.

Fruit

iron is concentrated in dried fruits Photo Credit Ekaterina Garyuk/iStock/Getty Images

In general, fruit does not contain a significant amount of iron, but the vitamin C in citrus and other types of fruit helps your body absorb non-heme iron from plant sources, especially when these foods are eaten together at the same meal. Dried apricots, dates and raisins do contain significant amounts of iron because nutrients are concentrated in dehydrated fruits.

Vegetables

spinach is another source of non-heme iron Photo Credit Marek Uliasz/iStock/Getty Images

Several green vegetables such as broccoli, green peas, kale, collard greens and spinach contain significant amounts of iron but, like other plant foods, the iron is in non-heme form, which is not easily absorbed into the body. Serving vegetables with a source of heme iron, such as a steak or chicken thigh, or another vegetable or fruit that is especially high in vitamin C, such as sweet peppers, tomatoes or mango slices, will increase the amount of iron available from the green vegetables.

Fortified Foods

some rice is fortified with iron Photo Credit libra_photo/iStock/Getty Images

Breads, cereals, rice and pastas are among the types of food that are fortified with iron. That means supplemental iron is added to the product as it is being processed. The types of iron used in the fortification program vary in bioavailability, which means some are better absorbed--and therefore more useful for improving low iron levels--than others. These products, like other plant-based foods, are best served with heme sources of iron or good sources of vitamin C to ensure the best absorption of iron.

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High Protein, Low Carb Vegetarian Foods

Overview

About 7.3 million people in the United States follow a vegetarian diet, according to the Vegetarian Times website. Another 22.8 million follow a semi-vegetarian diet, which includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. Vegetarians do not consume meats in any form, including hamburgers, pork chops, hot dogs, chicken, turkey and fish, and therefore may suffer from a lack of protein. Many vegetarians rely on high-carbohydrate foods, such as breads and pastas, to replace meat products; however, if you wish to follow a low-cab diet, there are several low-carb vegetarian foods that can give you the protein you need.

Eggs are a low-carbohydrate source of protein. Photo Credit Design Pics/Design Pics/Getty Images

Vegetable Sources

Vegetables are important parts of a vegetarian diet. Although most vegetables contain some carbohydrates, they are much lower in carbs than grains and other common vegetarian foods. The vegetables that supply the most protein, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database, are broccoli, asparagus, garlic, turnip greens, spinach and tomatoes. These vegetables all contain between 5 and 10 grams of protein per 1-cup serving.

Beans and Protein

According to the Vegetarian Resource Group, beans are efficient sources of lean protein that can replace meats in the vegetarian diet. They are also low in carbohydrates and contain no saturated fats or cholesterol. Chickpeas, lentils, navy beans, cowpeas and black beans are all high-protein, low-carbohydrate choices.

Tofu

Tofu is a common meat replacement for vegetarians. This food, made from soybean milk, is an abundant source of protein, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group. Unlike meat replacements that contain wheat, such as tempeh, seitan and most commercially-packaged veggie burgers, tofu is low in carbohydrates.

Dairy Products and Eggs

Although vegetarians do not eat meat products, most consume eggs, as well as dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and milk. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, eggs and dairy products are low in carbohydrates, with less than 1 carb in an egg and less than 10 carbs in a cup of milk. They are also rich sources of protein for vegetarians.

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What Are the Benefits of Omega XL?

Omega XL brand-name supplements contain a combination of omega-3-acid ethyl esters that provides you with nutrition that may potentially ward off arthritis and different types of cancers, as well as reduce your risk of heart disease, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. The food sources for omega-3 fatty acids include seafood, tuna, halibut, algae, krill, fish and nuts. Both eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, make up the omega-3 fatty acids. Doctors often recommend omega-3 supplements for fighting high cholesterol and heart disease. Speak with your physician before you start taking Omega XL.

Plant-based and animal sources of Omega-3 acids. Photo Credit AlexPro9500/iStock/Getty Images

Lowering Blood Pressure

Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids with supplements such as Omega XL will help lower your blood pressure, Gale Malesky, author of “The Definitive Guide to Health Supplements,” reports. The fish oil helps to decrease the cholesterol levels in your bloodstream, which also widens your arterial openings allowing for better circulation of blood.

Arthritis Treatment

Studies suggested by the University of Maryland Medical Center report that omega-3 fatty acids such as those contained in Omega XL play a key role in helping your body increase its level of calcium that helps protect and strengthen your bones. Other studies report that the lack of omega-3 fatty acids in your body can lead to decreased bone density.

Cholesterol Treatment

The combination of omega 3-fatty acids in Omega XL lowers your cholesterol and prevents heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids also decrease your risks of a heart attack or stroke because they help keep your arteries clear of blockages. The harmful level of triglycerides, a part of cholesterol, in your bloodstream decreases and your health improved, Malesky states.

Lupus Help

The University of Maryland Medical Center concludes per studies that fish oil may decrease lupus symptoms such as tiredness and joint-related pain. Lupus is a disease involving your nervous system and joints that causes severe pain.

Lowered Health Risks

Lowered risks of arthritis, cancer and heart disease, have been associated with the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, Malesky relates. You will experience less joint pain associated with arthritis, fewer problems with blood pressure and arteriosclerosis, and less chance of a diagnosis of cancer. This positive effect on your health indicates the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet or as a supplement.

Effects on Depression

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate mental depression and or mental illnesses. Omega-3 fatty acids added to antidepressant therapy have proven to have a positive effect on the symptoms of depression, the organization indicates.

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How to Refrigerate Fish Oil Capsules

Fish oil is a dietary supplement available in liquid, softgel and capsule form and contains a considerable amount of omega-3 fatty acids. According to MayoClinic.com, the DHA and EPA compounds found in fish oil have been clinically proven to lower triglyceride in the body while reducing the risk of death, heart attack and strokes. While some consumers opt to take their fish oil in liquid form rather than capsules, both types will turn rancid and lose their beneficial properties after three months.

Fish oil capsules. Photo Credit shining_pictures/iStock/Getty Images

Step 1

Inspect the label of your fish oil capsule or softgel product for specific storing instructions. According to the Spectrum Organics fish oil manufacturer, capsule containers can be kept at room temperature until they're opened, after which they should be refrigerated.

Step 2

Locate the temperature gauge or program interface inside your refrigerator for raising or lowering the temperature. Adjust the settings so the inside of the refrigerator is kept at least 39 degrees F or colder.

Step 3

Place your fish oil capsule container in the refrigerator immediately after opening. Make sure the lid has been tightly sealed and is as close to airtight as possible. Reduce the amount of time your fish oil sits outside of the refrigerator when taking the capsules to help prolong shelf life.

Step 4

Keep the fish oil capsules stored up to 90 days from the time you first opened the container. Throw out any remaining capsules after 90 days to reduce the chance of consuming rancid capsules.

Things You'll Need

• Fish oil capsules

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Iron-Rich Foods for Iron Deficiency and Anemia

Overview

Iron helps the body produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Therefore, people who are deficient in iron often feel unwarranted fatigue. If iron deficiency is suspected, it is important to ensure that iron-rich foods are a part of the diet and to consult a doctor; low iron can be a symptom of other health problems. Eat foods rich in vitamin C to increase iron absorption, reports "Vegetarian Times."

Green, leafy vegetables like spinach can provide quality sources of iron. Photo Credit rez-art/iStock/Getty Images

Fish and Seafood

Some fish and seafood can provide rich sources of iron. Clams, oysters and fish contain high amounts of heme iron. According to the National Institutes of Health, oysters contain 4.5mg of iron per serving and halibut contains 0.9mg of iron per serving.

Heme iron is the form of iron that is more easily absorbed and maintained in the body. A person with an iron deficiency or anemia will have to eat less fish or seafood than other iron-rich foods because these contain the best type of iron in high amounts.

Organ Meats

Meats that come from the livers of chickens, pigs and cows offer significant sources of heme iron, notes the Cleveland Clinic. For example, a serving of chicken liver contains 12.8mg of iron, reports the NIH.

Although these organ meats are rich sources of iron, consume them in moderation because of the high amounts of saturated fat and calories. Therefore, these meats are rich in iron and can help a person overcome an iron deficiency, but if the person is at risk for heart disease, organ meats may not be the best option.

Nuts, Seeds and Beans

Plant-based proteins, such as nuts, seeds and beans all offer significant amounts of iron. According to the NIH, per serving black beans contain 3.6mg of iron, kidney beans contain 5.2mg of iron and boiled soybeans contain 8.8mg of iron.

These plant-based, iron-rich foods contain significant amounts of non heme iron. According to "Vegetarian Times," non heme iron, while good for iron, needs to be consumed in higher amounts because it is not as easily absorbed or retained in the body. People can consume a variety of different nuts, seeds and beans such as peanut butter, canned beans, lentils and pumpkin seeds to get high iron. Also, plant-based sources of iron contain fewer calories and healthy fats. Therefore, they may be a healthy option for a person struggling with weight or at risk for heart disease.

Fortified Products

Due to the high risk of iron deficiency that occurs during pregnancy, many cereals, breads and pastas have been enriched with significant amounts of iron. NIH reports that 100 percent iron-fortified cereal contains 18mg of iron.

In addition to rich amounts of iron, people can choose whole-grain cereals, breads and pastas that have been fortified; this will also provide a significant amount of fiber, which is important to overall health.

Green Leafy Vegetables

Vegetables, such as spinach and kale, which are dark green in color and have large leaves, can provide quality sources of iron. NIM reports that a serving of boiled spinach provides 3.2mg of iron. These vegetables contain the vegetable-based non heme iron, but these vegetables also provide valuable vitamins and minerals that help maintain overall healthy functioning.

Beef

Beef products contain high amounts of heme iron. According to the NIH, beef tenderloin contains 3mg of iron per serving. When considering beef as a rich source of iron, it is important to remember that beef is high in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. Therefore, beef may not be the best source of iron for people who are overweight or at risk for heart disease.

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